Sharapova Still Recovering from Shoulder Injury

By AP&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Tue 2:33 PM, Feb 10, 2009

Maria Sharapova's return to the tour is still on hold. Even she is not sure when her injured right shoulder will be ready.

After missing the past two Grand Slam tournaments - last year'sU.S. Open and this year's Australian Open - Sharapova pulled out ofthis week's indoor event in Paris, and next week's hard-court eventin Dubai.

The earliest she expects to be back is a month from now: Hernext scheduled event, according to the WTA Tour's Web site, is theMarch 11-22 tournament at Indian Wells, Calif.

Sharapova wrote on her Web site last week that she is "aiming"to return at that event or the March 25-April 4 tournament at KeyBiscayne, Fla., "depending on how things shape up."

"I cannot wait to get back to playing tournaments," thethree-time Grand Slam title winner wrote.

Sharapova has not played competitively since pulling out of atournament in Montreal in late July after winning a nearlythree-hour match in which she double-faulted 17 times. Theright-hander was examined by a trainer midway through the three-setvictory, and she withdrew from the event before her next match.

Medical tests later found a torn rotator cuff tendon in theRussian's shoulder.

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